Household gas cooking: a risk factor for respiratory illnesses in preschool children

Abstract

Aims: To explore the association of household gas cooking and respiratory illnesses in preschool children and their relation to outdoor air pollution. Methods: Cross-sectional study among households that used gas stoves for cooking in two housing estates with contrasting air qualities in Hong Kong. A structured questionnaire was administered to parents of 426 children aged 0-6 years on their exposure to gas cooking and passive smoking, and the prevalence of respiratory illnesses. Results: A total of 111 children (26.1%) were reported to have one or more respiratory illnesses (allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia). Of these, 21 (18.9%), 41 (36.9%), and 49 (44.1%) children were from households that cooked once, twice, and three times a day with gas. Hierarchical logistic regression models adjusting for socioeconomic, demographic, and indoor risk factors including passive smoking showed that household gas cooking was positively associated with respiratory illnesses. There was a dose-response relation between the frequency of gas cooking and the prevalence of respiratory illnesses in the estate with lower outdoor air pollution (OR = 6.1 and 3.2 respectively, for cooking three and two meals a day, compared to one meal a day). This relation was not observed in the more polluted estate. The association between the presence of a cigarette smoker in the household and the prevalence of respiratory illnesses was not significant. Conclusions: As gas cooking is common in urban households, the findings could have important public health implications.

Air pollution and allergic disease

“…In a smaller cross-sectional study, two private residential areas (one designated a "high" pollution, the other a "low" pollution environment based on mean concentrations of PM 10 , sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrous oxide) were used in a 10-week interview study [25]. Frequency of respiratory illnesses, frequency of gas cooking, and other sources of indoor air pollutants were documented.…”

Most relevant sources of indoor particles in children’s rooms and respiratory health effects of size-segregated particles

“…These particles also penetrate into the indoor environment due to ventilation, but also at closed windows [5]. Particle concentrations were www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line) significantly higher if children's rooms had windows to streets with high traffic density but not generally for apartments that were located in such streets.…”

“…Heating and cooking may also be important indoor particle sources. Indoor gas cooking increase particle concentrations and is suspected to produce respiratory symptoms in children [5,6]. These indoor studies, however, examine health effects in relation to emission sources.…”

Seasonal variation of indoor and outdoor air quality of nitrogen dioxide in homes with gas and electric stoves

“…The relationship between exposure to nitrogen dioxide and health effects has been confirmed in a number of epidemiological studies. Respiratory symptoms including cough, breathlessness, wheezing, and asthma attacks were the most commonly reported health problems in children associated with indoor nitrogen dioxide level and gas cooking (Belanger et al 2013;Breysse et al 2010;de Bilderling et al 2005;Gillespie-Bennett et al 2011;Hansel et al 2008;Kattan et al 2007;Lin et al 2013;Pilotto et al 2004;Wong et al 2004). Population studies have found that exposure to NO 2 increases the risk of respiratory symptoms in adults (Bernstein et al 2008;Kornartit et al 2010;Latza et al 2009;Marks et al 2010;Young et al 2014).…”